Weather delays prove costly on Great Lakes in November

Weather delays prove costly on Great Lakes in November A stormy November took its toll on the movement of dry-bulk cargoes in U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.
   The weather idled 60 vessels more than 5,000 sailing hours during the month, so that the carriers could move only 9.5 million tons of dry-cargo in November, down 16 percent from a year ago.
   'Even when weighed against the month's five-year average, the float for November was more than 11 percent off the pace,' the Lake Carriers Association (LCA) said in a statement.
   The iron ore trade suffered the greatest decline in November, with loadings down more than 21 percent compared to both a year ago and the month's five-year average.
   Limestone shipments did not fare much better, slipping 18 percent compared to a year ago, and 14 percent for the month's five-year average.
   Only coal loadings even approached last November's level.
   For the year thus far, U.S.-flag carriage on the Great Lakes stands at 98.4 million tons, down 3.3 percent compared to the same point in 2004, but slightly ahead of the five-year average for the January-November timeframe.
   The Lake Carriers Association, based in Cleveland, represents 12 American corporations that operate U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.